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SBS Farms Takes Top Awards in $15,000 International Hunter Derby at Kentucky Spring Horse Show

Written by: Kendall Bierer
Client: SBS Farms, Ltd. http://www.thebtrc.org/
Release Date: 2012-05-15

Buffalo, NY – May 15, 2012 – The Kentucky Spring Horse Show saw great success from SBS Farms, Inc. throughout the week at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY. Jennifer Alfano took control of the hunter divisions, earning championship awards in the professional hunter divisions. She also piloted Jersey Boy to the second place finish in the $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, as well as guiding Miss Lucy to the third place finish.

Saturday night was filled with anticipation as Alfano took an early lead during the second round aboard Helen Lenahan’s Miss Lucy, earning a second round score of 92.5. She chose to take all four options, made tight rollbacks and exemplified a strong hand gallop with the judges dually awarding her with high handy bonus points, too.

Alfano’s score held a solid lead until it came down to the final two. Alfano entered the ring atop two-time horse of the year, Jersey Boy, and knew that he was going to shine. “He felt awesome, I don’t think that he could have been any better in the handy, I thought he was absolutely awesome,” Alfano smiled. “Tonight was just one of those nights where he really felt on. I knew from the moment I galloped to the first jump that I knew he could just take on a great pace and do an amazing job, which he did.”

The pair was awarded the handy score of 100.5, a half-point over perfect. In addition to their first round score of 87, they had a total score of 187.5. Although their score rose to the immediate top, it eventually would earn the duo the second place honors just behind Colvin and Inclusive. “Jersey Boy has nothing to prove,” Alfano explained. “He has done so much, and he just keeps going out there and doing his best. I couldn’t have asked for more.”

Alfano also competed with Sharon O’Neill’s Rose Hill. This was only the young mare’s third derby, and her first round score of 81 earned her a prime spot in the second round of the International Hunter Derby. They were awarded with the tenth place prize for their efforts.

“I thought Rosie did so great. I am so excited about her. She did a great job, and aside from the wall down at the end, I don’t think I could have asked for anything better,” Alfano elaborated. “She has come so far in the last year, and I know that this was a huge step for her, this is her first time making it into the second round, and she just keeps getting better and better with each new experience.”

Alfano and Jersey Boy dominated the High Performance Hunters during the first week of the Kentucky Spring Series. She rode him to all four blue ribbons in the over fences and took the second place prize in the under saddle, and the championship awards did not stop there. Danny Robertshaw’s Lions Paw also made an impact in the Regular Conformation Hunter division. He took the top honors in all four of the over fences, and earned the red ribbon in the under saddle. Alfano and Lions Paw were awarded with the division’s championship.

“Lions Paw has had a really long break, and for him to come back and do as well as he did, I thought was really great,” Alfano said. “He is a great horse, and he really seemed to enjoy all of the courses. I started showing him in Ocala during HITS, and I was thrilled with him. He was great, and the course rode nicely. He’s pretty simple to ride, he never spooks at anything, and he is just a fun horse to ride.”

Alfano also picked up good ribbons in the Second Year Green Working Hunters with So Money, owned by Mandy Killman out of Omaha, NE, and earned the third place ribbon in the over fences and the first place in the under saddle with Karen Macdonald’s Rapunzel in the First Year Green Working Hunters. Maggie May, owned by Billie Steffee, took excellent placings in the High Pre Green Working Hunters with Alfano, earning the first place over fences for their consistency and style.

The SBS Farms team will continue on to Devon, PA, for the 2012 Devon Horse Show and County Fair from May 24 – June 3, 2012. Alfano will once again show all of her top mounts including Helen Lenahan’s Miss Lucy, Billie Steffee’s Maggie May, Sharon O’Neill’s Rose Hill, Jersey Boy and Looking Glass. For SBS Farms, the spring/summer season is only beginning, and they are ready for action.

Based out of Buffalo, NY, SBS Farms’ Susie Schoellkopf and Jennifer Alfano run one of the foremost show hunter training operations in the country, and travel nationwide to compete in the nation’s most prestigious horse shows. SBS Farms, Inc. continues the proud tradition of the Saddle and Bridle Club as one of the top show stables in the northeast. Schoellkopf is also the Executive Director of the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center, which houses both The Buffalo Equestrian Center as well as SBS Farms. Built in 1922, the 160-stall facility is a historical landmark, with its unique English Tudor and gothic style architecture. For more information on SBS Farms and the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center, please visit www.thebtrc.org.

Photo: Jennifer Alfano and Jersey Boy placed second in the $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby at the 2012 Kentucky Spring Horse Show. Photo Credit: Kendall Bierer/PMG. Photograph may be used only in relation to this PMG press release.